Huzzah! Progress!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters in Naruto. Said characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Kakashi felt that he was getting old far too fast than to his liking. In fact, he mused, Life has the potential to get much shorter if I don't pay attention right now. He quickly ducked, avoiding a punch to the head, which caused an explosion of tree bark and fragments to rain down through the wooded area. A pink-haired student glared at him through the wood flying about the air.

"You're distracted, Kakashi." She stated. "And you don't even have your book out."

The grey-haired man slouched down, sighing. "Eh, you're right; I am a little bit sidetracked… But that's hardly the point. How are you so focused when you've got your hands full with other problems?"

Sakura ground her teeth and yelled. Sparring was supposed to be a time to forget about life for a moment! Not bring up all the issues she was currently engulfed in. Screaming, "Don't bring that shit up!," Sakura threw another punch towards her old sensei. With a shrug, he crinkled his eye and disappeared from her view.

Great. Now he actually felt like trying. Sakura grunted and scowled down at the ground to think for a moment.

The two of them had been going at it for quite some time… Dusk was starting to settle in. It had been early afternoon when Kakashi had seen Sakura wandering around the village streets and asked her for some good old-fashioned combat between friends. It seemed Gai was out of town- much to Kakashi's glee, and Genma had guard duty for the day. Of course, Naruto would have been the next best choice, but it appeared Gaara had requested to meet with him. He would be gone for a while…

Not that Sakura cared. They still weren't talking… but she'd be the one to play the "I told you so game," when the time came. When Naruto finally realized that what was happening was, in fact, happening… he'd come groveling back and ask for forgiveness. She knew she was right. And she wouldn't make the first move to go to him. No. He had to come to her and try to seek pardon.

Naruto refused to listen when he had his mind made up. If he wanted to become Hokage, as he continually kept at the top of his 'to do' list, then he would have to learn the ability to sit still and listen to others. He would get himself nowhere if he kept up his infuriating attitude of 'what happened in the past is over.'

The blonde really needed to figure out that the past always comes back to bite you in the ass. In fact, his words weren't always applicable despite if he truly believed in second chances for everyone. But no. Killing your entire clan on orders for the most dastardly old geezers in the village (who Naruto was opposed of, as well) was a life non-recoupable. However, the brother of said killer can go off and join forces with a rebel ninja doing unspeakably creepy things, hurt Konoha ninja, and other shinobi from other nations? And try to kill Naruto himself while leaving his other teammate on a fucking park bench in the middle of the night?

But of course! Apology accepted, courtesy of Uzumaki Naruto's Special Friends with Special Privileges Services.

Sakura had once heard that the Nine-Tailed fox was clever. Apparently, his intellectual talents were not spared to his blonde, air-headed host.

But because said dumbass blonde was unavailable, Sakura found herself fourth on the list of possible sparring partners for her former sensei. She didn't mind that she wasn't in the top three… after all, she knew Kakashi felt a little uncomfortable fighting females. It was foreign territory for him, but being his student for many years had put her as one of his most loyal partners and they truly trusted each other.

That didn't mean she went easy on him.

Sakura charged chakra to her feet. Kakashi was 40 meters at 5 o'clock. She needed to take out some anger and when Kakashi offered a little sparring, he had no idea what he was getting himself into.

Kakashi belatedly realized Sakura was pissed. Honestly, it didn't take much of a detective to realize that; the anger radiating off of her, along with the screaming, yelling, and her eyes had darkened to a deep emerald color. She was ready to kill something.

He was currently several tens of meters away from her, leaning up against a tree. The grey-haired man was somewhat enjoying himself, he supposed. Sakura was always entertaining to fight with. Her dangerous hand-to-hand combat was an area he was rusty at… Kakashi's ninjutsu was a library filled with all sorts of goodies, acquired over the years, courtesy of the Sharingan. Said special eye also gave him advantages in the genjutsu realm… but his taijutsu always could use some work.

Naturally, Gai would be his first option… but thankfully, the spandex-adorning, bowl-cut sporting, flashy man of Konoha was out of town. Who else to go to, but his little female student?

Oh, she was little, but damn, she could do more damage than most of the men in this village in a single hit. Training with her was considerably advantageous; she was perfect for playing the roles of enemies who you had to avoid when even a single touch could cost you your life.

Kakashi sighed. Training Ground 4 was destroyed; leaving only the forest area next to it was still intact. Kakashi wondered if bringing the fight into the wooded areas would be a good idea… On second thought, Tsunade would kill him.

Well, in that case, onto plan B.

The one-eyed man ran out from behind the tree and toward his student. It was true, he didn't like to partake in combat with females… it made him somewhat uneasy… but he would do it if he had to. He knew Sakura knew that fact… but she didn't know what he had up his sleeve. One of the benefits of working with Sakura for so long was that he knew her well enough to know exactly what to do… and the precise actions to take to cause her to miscalculate.

Said female was currently watching him, as she had turned around to face him. Sakura blinked. He was headed right for her… did he think straight on attacks would work against her? Come on, Kakashi, you know better than that, she thought… Using her now charged feet, Sakura sprinted towards her mentor, intent on meeting him halfway. Pulling back a fist full of chakra, Sakura was just about close enough to hit him. She was running, closing the distance between them, thrusting her arm forward… Preparing herself to let loose a full-frontal attack of chakra, her hand was just about to connect with his jaw-

"So I heard the Uchiha stopped by your place." With a lazy grace only he possessed, Kakashi calmly leaned down to avoid her attack, as she stumbled, confused.

Sakura stared dumbly at him for a moment, completely off guard, before mashing her teeth together and stampeding toward him again.

"Who the hell told you that?" Sakura dropped down, swinging her leg out, in an attempt to swipe his feet out from under him. Kakashi only had to jump in order to avoid her attack.

The lazy shinobi was smirking beneath his mask. When in doubt, throw in a few random comments guaranteed to piss Sakura off, and she would be bound to make mistakes. It was a rather bad habit of hers… but it provided the necessary time to evade her devastating attacks.

Of course, it only added to her rage and made her all the more dangerous, but that was a risk Kakashi was willing to take. He moved behind her, but she leaned and completed a back flip, throwing her strong legs out in the process. He narrowly avoided them, as he sidled his body to the left, forcing his own fist toward her gut.

"How was your tea party?" he said, cool as you please. Sakura furrowed her eye brows together and yelled to the heavens.

"Bloody awful! Shut the hell up!" Sakura pitched her own hand out to meet his. Kakashi realized her hand had chakra backing it up, so he pulled his own back to dodge a painful hand breaking.

"So, I took a little mosey down through the streets, and what should my wandering ears discover? A disgruntled medic and a dangerous man who seems to have taken more of an interest in her, than anything else." Sakura cursed how nonchalant Kakashi could talk, despite the fact she was throwing a flurry of punches at him. It pissed her off, really. Sure, she was definitely stronger than him, but his speed was more advantageous in this situation.

So the pervert was spying on her. Well, that was just goddamned perfect. His sense of smell probably alerted him to the Uchiha's arrival in the first place. Or he was just taking a stroll by her apartment and just happened to overhear their encounter. Well, it seemed he only knew about the second visit, not the first. And that visit was much more troubling.

Pivoting on her left leg, Sakura spun around, throwing her right towards his gut. The bastard leaned back as if it was a damn limbo stick; He thought this was funny? Next time Kakashi had a hospital visit, she would make sure to take a personal look. He could shove his attitude up his ass. Upon planting her right leg on the ground, Sakura crouched and forced an uppercut toward his chin.

Kakashi merely cocked his head.

"I heard your little comment about him being 'ultra creepy' and smelling your… hair, was it?"

Sakura stopped moving, her eyes widened. There was a hard lump to swallow down her throat; she didn't say anything, so Kakashi did for her.

"Don't worry, I haven't told anyone, even Ino. But he certainly is warming up to you. Odd, ain't it?" He pulled his arm back and scratched the back of his head.

Sakura remained silent. Well, at least Ino didn't know.

It was now dark; the sun had almost completely disappeared over the horizon.

"Look, Sakura. You're in a complicated situation." Kakashi sighed. Sakura realized the fight was over and lowered her guard. Whereas Tsunade often took on the maternal role for Sakura, Kakashi sometimes filled in the father figure. He took care of her and Naruto when no one else would, and he was always there for them. Pervert he may be, he truly cared about his team, and being the only female in close contact, earned her a special place in his care and friendship.

"I know I am. Tsunade told me all about it." She let out. Kakashi nodded.

"The guy is sneaking into your apartment. You're lucky the Inuzuka were out of the village; they might have detected his scent. Shit, he's probably got his smell all over your place. So no dog-loving, face-tattooed clan members over at your home for awhile, ok?" the grey-haired man asked. He was rewarded with a nod.

"I won't reiterate what your Shishou said to you. You know how dangerous a situation you're in. But Uchiha Itachi never failed missions, when we were in ANBU. From what I heard last night, he's got his sights set on you, for whatever reason, so be on your guard. You can always come to me if you need something. Got it?" He leaned forward and put emphasis on his last words.

"Yes, Kakashi." She mumbled. He looked at her, with an overwhelming sense of pity.

"You're in a mess, I'm sorry for that, and for all the teasing. I was freaked out at the beginning, believe me, but you always go with your gut, right? But at least one of the great mysteries of Konoha is well on its way to being solved…" the lazy jounin trailed off. "Now, go home, Sakura. You're tired and you've been through the week from Hell. I haven't smelled him, so I'm certain your couch is Itachi-free."

That was enough to bring out a smile from the kunoichi. "Best news I've heard all day," she cheered out.

"Glad to hear it. Come on, I'll walk you home."

Sakura gave a small smile, which was returned with a small eye crinkle.

A bonfire seemed like a perfect idea right now. There were too many goddamned papers in this office and it seemed that was the only one way to solve that problem. It was summer… so thunderstorms were plausible in Konoha, right? Besides, lightening was unpredictable… and would just so happen to go through the window of the Hokage tower and light every document on her desk on fire, sending all paperwork into the fiery flames of corporate hell.

At least, that's what Tsunade thought.

Stacks of paperwork littered her desk and she had no intention of doing any of it. Where the hell did all this shit come from, anyway? The Fifth debated about actually reading a document, but thought better of it. She really just didn't feel like it.

It was well into the night, also… she had been in that stupid little office for hours and it would be time to go home any minute. But Tsunade sighed, her body refusing to leave the chair behind the desk.

The papers were still there. They hadn't moved. It would have been nice if they would just take care of themselves. Tsunade once again came to the realization that the whole business portion of Hokage really wasn't her thing. Of course, she could handle everything diplomatically. She could defend her village. But signing papers… she really didn't give a damn.

It was just too bad that even the Hokage didn't get into the deeper secrets of the village. Who would have known such an awful history was behind the massacre years ago? Fucking Danzo and the Elders. How could they do that to one of their own? No one deserves that fate.

Now she had to figure out how to deal with this situation. Unfortunately, it was frowned upon to kill council members and the man behind one of the deadly organizations in Konoha; it wouldn't go undetected. This had to be handled with care… that is, if Uchiha Itachi wasn't pulling some ridiculously, multi-step stunt in the first place. Of course, there was always that chance, but Tsunade's instincts told her otherwise. This was completely out of his character.

Whatever, everything works out somehow, she supposed.

Piles of papers towered on her desk. They really weren't going away… How hard would it be to just use a fire jutsu…? It would be an accident… Tsunade sighed. Life was just one big mess. Of course, the Godaime wanted to laugh… her own pupil was up to her hair in her own troubles. But that would be resolved soon, as well. She hoped.

Tsunade looked at the clock on the wall. It was well into the wee hours of the morning; she'd sleep in a little tomorrow for all the 'hard work' she had completed today. Of course, it was bullshit, but no one would know.

Tsunade stretched her back, as she did every night before getting ready to head home. Just as she was getting ready to stand up, a primal instinct told her not to move. It seemed Sakura had delivered her message to the Uchiha and he was actually going to stop by. Tsunade shifted in the chair and stared at her desk, waiting expectantly.

Feeling a presence now within the walls of the office, Tsunade quickly performed the hand signals for a barrier around the room. No one would know who was in here, what was being conversed, or any other details. Ready to face him straight on, Tsunade lifted her eyes to face one of the most infamous nin in Konoha's history.

What she saw was a man standing before her, in a trademark Akatsuki cloak, which was opened completely. Dark pants and shirt greeted her as she looked from his feet to slowly meet his face. The Fifth noted the man's physique beneath his tight shirt. Holding back a smirk, she realized there was no question as to why Sakura was so unnerved by the man.

Tsunade was now looking at the man's neck, wondering if it was best to meet his gaze. But the decline of his chin clearly pointed to the fact that his head was bowed. To her. The Godaime quickly stared into the face of Uchiha Itachi.

His eyes were closed, but upon sensing she was now looking at him, they opened to reveal his charcoal eyes. It was then he raised his head up to meet her own stare. The blonde spoke first.

"Uchiha Itachi." He nodded, without a word.

"You are here under peaceful terms with this village? You shall not cause harm, nor do you have any underhanded plans in store?" She questioned. Once again, a wordless nod.

Tsunade realized how precarious a situation this was. Here was a man who was wanted by almost every country, and she had invited him into the Hokage tower willingly. If this was found out… well, she knew the name of the creek she'd be knee deep in.

"I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. For the past week or so, you've caused an uproar for a couple of people. You've completely uprooted the history of the Uchiha clan with an incredible story. Do you have any proof as to your claims?" the Fifth asked.

"Only my own words, Hokage." Itachi answered, truthfully. The blonde stared at the Sharingan wielder for a few moments. He had no evidence? Well, she should have suspected as much from the wrinkled, old fools and Danzo. They would no doubt leave nothing behind of their cruelty.

Itachi took the moments of silence to glance around the office. Nostalgia filled him… the last time he was here… well, it didn't end very well. He wouldn't like to think about it. But the woman in front of him, the fifth Hokage, seemed…appropriate for the title. She wasn't stupid- he could tell that very well. Of course, she may be a little lazy, judging by the mountains of papers on either side of her. That was hardly the point, though. He knew of her physical power and other accomplishments. Tsunade was indeed worthy of her title of Sannin.

Dark grey eyes watched as amber started to harden. Tsunade's demeanor changed roughly, denoting an air of authority and agitation, not unlike a particular favorite personality Sakura often utilized… The gruff nature about Tsunade reminded him of her apprentice; a small smirk making its way upon his face. Tsunade was quick to notice.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, brat. None of that, while you're here. Unless you care to explain what is attempting to make you laugh. You're on my ground now, and I will not hesitate to put you through the wall, if I desire." The blonde gestured to the wall behind him and Itachi almost laughed. There was a… paperweight…? Embedded several inches into the plaster.

"There is no doubt of resemblance between you and your student. She takes after you in many ways; it is fascinating to me." He answered honestly.

Tsunade blinked. "Yes, I've heard all about that, Training ground 4 is fantastic proof of our similarities, especially when provoked. But that's not the reason for your presence. You know this?"

"I do."

A pause. Tsunade quickly understood how infuriating the male could be and why Sakura was so pissed off at him constantly.

"Since you don't feel like breaking the ice, I'll do so. Now, you confirm that the Elders and Danzo ordered you to kill your clan? The Third Hokage attempted to stop the Uchiha uprising peacefully, which ultimately failed? Uchiha Madara helped you in your task, because of selfish reasons? Are these points true?"

"Yes, they are as they appear."

"You plan to go after Sasuke, who you believe is under influence of Orochimaru? A twisted kind of atonement is in store?"

"It is so."

The blonde started rubbing her head. There was no doubt; Uchiha Itachi was stifling curt. How did Sakura manage to hold conversation with this guy? Surely it would have been pulling teeth for anyone…

"Damn it, Uchiha. You are allowed to talk more than just agreeing terms. Now tell me what you plan to do. I won't expect anything less than the truth. I have a variety of medical techniques to use at my disposal. As does Sakura, should she decide to partake in the festivities." The Fifth stated, rather annoyed.

An irrationally long pause followed. It was late and Tsunade wanted nothing more than to get this over with and go the hell home. Sake was calling to her and this bastard was taking his time. Shit, it was like trying to get Shikamaru to do something. Just when Tsunade was about to declare Uchiha Itachi a complete jerk and waste of time, he decided to open his mouth.

"I plan to kill Sasuke, but I will not do so under Akatsuki name. I wish to be recognized as a Konoha nin. I killed the clan under orders, and have repented long enough for my crimes. I had hoped Sasuke would help me atone for said criminal acts, but that is no longer possible. As such, change is in store."

"Yes, yes, we know all of this, get to the point," came a bored response.

"I will give you information on Akatsuki and whatever demands you ask. I merely wish to be put back on record as faithful to the village to restore the innocence to my lost brother."

"Even if the knowledge of your loyalty is known by only a few people?"

"That is acceptable. As long as I have been cleared and restored as loyal to Konoha."

The blonde drew a breath.

"That might be possible… I'll have to figure something out, but I can manage it. But the real problem is what to do with the Elders and Danzo. They're still hanging around, you know. I wouldn't like to think about what other heinous orders they have given out… but what is done is done, I suppose."

"Thank you, Hokage," was his formal reply.

"Now, here's another situation. If you're loyal under the Leaf, you can't be ferrying back and forth between here and Akatsuki. You are prepared to leave them?"

"Yes, but it shall be a slight bit complicated." Itachi claimed. Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him.

"I take it that you can't simply leave the organization?" she inquired.

"No, I cannot. I have information on the organization and Uchiha Madara would not be pleased to learn I am resigning my membership." The blonde raised an eyebrow, prepared to ask a question, but the Uchiha beat her to it.

"There are currently six members in Akatsuki. Pein, Konan, Zetsu, Kisame, and myself. The last member is known as Tobi, but is actually Uchiha Madara in disguise. Pein may appear to be the leader, but Madara is truly pulling the strings behind the production. Don't be fooled by his childish personality. In fact, I believe Madara is slowly descending upon the brink of insanity. He is losing touch with reality by confusing the Tobi persona with his original personality. It is rapidly progressing."

"And how does this affect you leaving Akatsuki?" the blonde asked.

"I will not be able to leave formally. However, I may act as a double agent for your purposes. I will keep tabs on their developments as I originally intended. Only now, it will be officially on paper. It will not be long until Madara completely loses his sanity. He will start acting irrationally any day now; he's already showing signs of madness. Once it fully takes over, I'm sure there will be an uprising within the organization and disbandment." The dark-haired man clarified. Tsunade decided to respond.

"But… in the meantime, you'll report anything back here, to me. Personally, correct? You are to act under all my orders and only my orders. Understood? I'll let you continue your spying, just keep me in the loop. I'm holding you to oath." There was a hint of something in her voice… possibly telling tales of what could happen should Itachi disobey her.

Uchiha Itachi nodded, "Understood, Hokage." He bowed slightly toward. The Fifth took this as a sign of agreement. No signed documents could be used, should someone find them. It could only be words and honor exchanged in this case. But Tsunade had a trump card.

"Now, Uchiha, explain to me what is going on between you and my student." The dark tone in her voice wasn't missed.

"I find her interesting," was his calm reply.

"Interesting? She's not an exhibit, Uchiha. She's a human being. And she is to be treated like one. Right now, you're acting like a little child who plays with his food before he eats it." Tsunade fisted her hands, visibly.

"I know this, but I do not consider her merely a toy. I find her a fascinating paradox, with much of her personality mirroring yours. I can see her in you, amongst other incredible qualities. Despite this, she is truly one of a kind," Itachi claimed.

"Now isn't the time to dodge the question, brat. Without my permission, your whole atonement plan isn't going to work. Now explain. In detail." The Godaime bit out.

Uchiha Itachi smirked.

"She is remarkably intelligent, which is coupled with her skilled ability to take care of herself. She can be infuriatingly sarcastic, yet caring. Of course, she is lovely, as well." Charcoal eyes lowered dangerously.

Tsunade digested what he stated. "You're telling me," she started. "That Haruno Sakura is worthy of your attention? You… Uchiha Itachi… wish to get to know her personally?"

"I tell you the truth. She interests me… on a deeper level. I understand that the situation now is delicate, but perhaps… there is a chance?" The Uchiha boldly stated.

The blonde blinked. It was official. Uchiha Itachi wanted to know Haruno Sakura… on a deeper… level? Holy shit.

"Alright, listen. If you play nice, you're welcome to go after her. Of course, only once all this bullshit is over or it's safe for you to do so. Be mindful that I'm not going to force her to do anything. If she rejects you, be warned that you may very well suffer… She won't be gentle if she tells you off." The Fifth heeded.

"I am aware of her physical, medical, and verbal assaults. I have your permission?" he asked.

"Yes, yes. Whatever. Just wait until things are a little bit more under control, alright? But just listen to me. She's confused. She has high standards, but it seems you're the only one to pass the test. If you're going to go after her, make sure it's for the long haul. You hear me? Otherwise, I'll plaster your insides to the walls around the village."

Yes, the Godaime and Sakura were eerily similar. It was quite apparent, now.

"It is understood. But I may continue to see her in casual greetings?" Tsunade realized he was up to something… but she didn't know what. But it seemed like this was one battle she wouldn't win.

"As long as you're careful. If you're caught, I can't help just yet. However, I'll let you know who is aware of your situation. It consists of myself, Sakura, Hatake Kakashi, Uzumaki Naruto, and Nara Shikamaru. In the mean time, keep off the radar. You just gave me a shitload of work to do." Tsunade sighed.

"I apologize. I certainly caused a disruption." Came a plain response.

"You're full of crap. You did more than a disruption. You just overthrew one of the major events in Konoha's history." The Fifth bit out.

"We are done, for now?" Uchiha Itachi smoothly let out. He stared at the blonde for a moment, wondering if she had anything else to ask.

"We're done. I expect to see you back when you have something important. Or even if you don't. Just be here so I can check up on you; there are tabs I need to keep in check. You understand? Once I get the paperwork done for you to be reinstated, you'll be on probation for awhile- but it won't be public knowledge. That will be worked out later. Now get your ass out of my office." The blonde huffed.

"Of course, now, if you will excuse me, my... ass... will leave. It was a pleasure talking with you, Tsunade. Please, have a good evening. I shall see you soon." And with a smirk, Uchiha Itachi disappeared from the office.

Tsunade instantly released the barrier jutsu.

Now she understood why Sakura was always so pissed by him. She wouldn't deny the man was handsome. He was clever and knew what he wanted. He was so Sakura's type.

Anyway, now she had to sneak behind the council's back and put Uchiha Itachi back in the good books. Somehow. Well, that would be a case for the Nara… The blonde rubbed her head and grumbled.

In the meantime, she now had information on Akatsuki to record, not to mention more data would be coming in… Things were looking up. Except the mountain of paperwork was still looming treacherously over her desk.

Not to mention, she had Danzo and the Elders to deal with. That would prove to be a tricky situation in itself. No wonder Itachi had to come to Sakura first, then her. If he just showed up and tried to explain his story, he would have been immediately apprehended, probably laughed at, and executed.

Sneaky little bastard. He was far too clever for his own good. He wasn't thinking a step ahead; he had planned out the whole situation! Ooh, Tsunade wanted to ring his stupid neck. It wasn't fair, how easy he could manipulate-

No, 'manipulate' wasn't the right word. He didn't manipulate. He just accessed the situation, looked at every possible outcome, and acquired a solution to each. He probably could give the Nara a run for his money…

Back to the geezers and Danzo. There wasn't anything she could do now; that would be a plan for tomorrow. It was far too late, by now. The dark morning hours were starting to wear her down. Yes, it was time to go home…

Tsunade packed up her belongings and began walking to the door of the office. Sparing a quick glance at the object stuck in the wall, she smiled and opened the door.

The Hokage realized she may have made a deal with the devil… A deal which included her permission to allow said devil to pursue her student- practically her daughter.

Closing the door behind her, Tsunade could only hope Sakura wouldn't kill her when she found out.

So... I would like to point out that it's March, yah? Almost April?

I stopped by my house yesterday. The Christmas tree is still up.

Let me know what y'all think!
-Kiwi